Apparatus for permanently setting synthetic hair

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for permanently setting synthetic hair. The apparatus includes a support base and a cover mechanically coupled thereto to form a chamber interior of the cover. A tank for holding a liquid solution is mounted within the support base, and means for mounting synthetic hair in the chamber, is mechanically coupled to the support base. Means, placed within the support base, is provided for vaporizing the liquid solution, wherein the vaporized liquid solution rises into the chamber so as to treat the synthetic hair within the chamber. The temperature distribution within the chamber is held uniform throughout by providing ventilating holes within the top portion of the cover for permitting the escape of vapor. The interior of the cover is lined with closed cell rubber or other suitable heat insulating material to reduce the heat transfer to the outer surface thereof and also to reduce the condensation of the vapor on the inner surface thereof.

ite tetes atent [|91 Peters [54] APPARATUS [FOR PERMANENTLY SETTING SYNTHETHC HAIR Inventor: Joseph Peters, Staten Island, N.Y.

[73] Vapor-Set Corporation, New York,

Feb. 25, 1972 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1972 Volosin 219/272 X ll/l967 Katzman et al..... 219/275 X l0/l97l Van Droogenbroeck 132/31 R 5/1967 Dunkelman 219/271 X Primary Examiner-Louis G. `Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz '.tttomey, Agent, of Fimlirschs'teinKirschstei-n, Ot-

4tinger & Frank [451 ar. t2, w74

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for permanently setting synthetic hair. The apparatus includes a support base and a cover mechanically coupled thereto to form a chamber interior of the cover. A tank for holding a liquid solution is mounted within the support base, and means for mounting synthetic hair in the chamber, is mechanically coupled to the support base. Means, placed within the support base, is provided for vaporizing the liquid solution, wherein the vaporized liquid solution rises into the chamber so as to treat the synthetic hair within the chamber. The temperature distribution within the chamber is held uniform throughout by providing Ventilating holes Within the top portion of the cover for permitting the escape of vapor. The interior of the cover is lined with closed cell rubber or other suitable heat insulating material to reducethe rheat transfer to the outer surface thereof and also to reduce the condensation of the vapor on the inner surface thereof.

PATENED HAR 12 1974 SHEET 1 0F 3 ffl-IGI APPARATUS FOR PERMANENTLY SETTING SYNTHETIC HAIR BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for treating synthetic fibers and more particularly for treating synthetic hair.

2. Description of the Prior Art Generally, synthetic hair has been cured or treated by circulating dry air in an oven over the hair at a ternperature of 240 F for approximately ll/z to 21/2 hours. The treatment of synthetic hair with such apparatus results in delusterization of the hair due to the temperature of the treatment and uneven treating of the hair due to the existence of temperature gradients within the oven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PURPOSE OF TI-IE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for treating synthetic fibers.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus for treating synthetic hair.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for uniformly permanently setting synthetic hair.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for treating synthetic hair. The apparatus includes a support base and a cover mechanically coupled thereto to form a chamber interior of the cover. A tank for holding a liquid solution is mounted within the support base, and means, for mounting synthetic hair in the chamber, is mechanically coupled to the support base. Means placed within the support base is provided for vaporzing the liquid solution, wherein the vaporized liquid solution rises into the chamber so as to treat the synthetic hair within. The temperature within the chamber is held uniform throughout by providing Ventilating holes within the top portion of the cover for permitting the escape of vapor, and having the interior of the cover lined with closed cell rubber or other suitable heat insulating material to reduce the heat transfer to the outer surface thereof and also to reduce the condensation of the vapor on the inner surface thereof.

The synthetic hair mounting means includes a Saucer having a mounting pin extending from the bottom central portion thereof, wherein the mounting pin has holes therein for permitting vaporized liquid from passing therethrough` The outer periphery of the saucer is positioned between the cover and support base. The upper portion of the tank is so attached to the base of vthe mounting pin that the vaporized liquid can escape from the tank, pass through the holes in the mounting pin and rise into the chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of this invenion;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2 showing a wig stand and wig mounted thereon.

FIG. 3 is a fregmentary exploded view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing a means for refilling the tank; and

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for the electrical apparatus associated with the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the inventive apparatus will now be described.

A support base 10, which can be made of a suitable rigid material, such as 14 gauge aluminum or even plastic, is provided. Support base 10 could be mounted on suitable rubber legs 12. A saucer 14 having a mounting pin 16 extending from the bottom central portion thereof is also provided and can be made of the same type of material as support base 10. Saucer 14 can have an outer peripheral edge 18, which rests upon an upper edge 20 of support base 10. Peripheral edge 18 of saucer 14 may or may not be permanently attached to upper edge 20 of support base 10. An enclosed tank 22 for holding liquid solution, such as water, water plus additives or other solvents plus additives, is also provided.

Mounting pin I6 extends from a hole 241 in the bottom of saucer 14 and is tapered from the bottom of the saucer. The top portion 26 of tank 22 snugly engages I the wall of hole 24, and tank 22 thus can be permanently attached to saucer 14 by epoxying top portion 26 of tank 22 to the wall of hole 24. It should of course be noted that tank 22 can be made of the same material as support base 10. A cup mount 28 can rest upon the bottom 30 of support base 10 and can provide a housing for a standard heating element 32, wherein heating element 32 rests just below the bottom of tank 22. Cup mount 28 also, of course,` can be made of the same material as support base 10. Saucer 14 can have an additional hole 34% in the bottom thereof, which hole is attached to a condensation drain hose 36, wherein hose 36 can have a flexible portion 38, which extends directly from hole 34 in saucer 143, and a more rigid straight metal portion, which extends to the bottom of support base 10 and past heating element 32. Flexible portion 38 can be made of rubber, while metal portion 40 can be made of aluminum tubing. Such a construction for the condensation drain hose is provided so as to insure that material which is more heat resistant than rubber hosing, such as aluminum tubing, will extend past the hotest portion of tank 22 and cup mount 28.

A dome shapedtor any other suitably shaped) cover 42 having an outer shell 44 made of the same type material as support base 10, is mechanically coupled to support base 1t) by having its lower end 46 rest on the upper portion 48 of the outer periphery 18 of saucer 14. The interior wall of cover 42 has a closed cell rubber or other suitable heat insulating lining 49, the function of which will be explained later. A vapor chamber 50 is formed between rubber lining 49 of cover 42 and saucer 14. Mounting pin 16 can have a series of holes 52 located towards its base 53 for allowing vapor to pass therethrough and into chamber 50. Dome cover 42 likewise can have a series of holes 54 therein for allowing vapor to escape therethrough. A wig stand 56,

which can be made of standard cork filled canvass, is mounted on mounting pin 16 in such a manner as to not block holes 52. A wig 58, or wiglet, fall etc, which can be made of synthetic hair, such as modacrylic fibers containing for instance 35 to 85 percent by weight acrylonitrile, or nylon, is placed on wig stand 56.

The holes in mounting pin 16, the holes in dome 42, the volume of chamber 50 and the temperature of vapor entering chamber 50 are so controlled as to provide an even treating of wig S8, or if desired, an even permanent setting of wig 58. For instance, in this example mounting pin l16 has six three-sixteenths of an inch diameter holes therein, cover 4&2 has six three-eighths of an inch diameter holes therein, and the volume of chamber 50 is approximately 130 cubic inches, so as to provide a good even temperature distribution throughout chamber 50 and thus an even set for wig 58. Rubber lining 49 is instrumental in providing an even temperature distribution within chamber 50 by reducing the heat transfer to the outer metal portion of cover 42 so as to prevent appreciable condensation ofthe rubber lining of cover 42 or on wig stand 56 or wig 58.

1f it is desired that the temperature within chamber 50 be evenly maintained at, for instance, approximately 150 to 160 F, this temperature range can be maintained by insuring that the temperature at the outer wall of tank 22 is within a range of approximately 180 to 220 F. Referring to FlG. 4, one terminal 60 of an a.c, line is connected to one terminal of a timer switch 62. Timer switch 62 can be a standard off-the-shelf item and can be mounted on support base l0. This particular timer switch, when set for a number of minutes closes, and when the time has elapsed the switch opens. The other terminal of timer 62 is connected to one terminal ofheater element 32, a ready-light 64 and an onoff light 66. The other terminal of on-off light 66 is connected to a return terminal 68 of the a.c. line so that when timer switch 62 is closed, on-offlight 66 is lit. The other terminal of ready-light 64 is connected to one terminal of a standard thermostat switch 70. Lights 64 and 66 are mounted on support base l0 so as to be visible from outside the apparatus. Thermostat switch 70 is mounted to the wall of tank 22 and is normally closed when the temperature that it senses is less than 180. The other terminal of thermostat switch 76 is conn nected to terminal 63 of the a.c. line so that ready-light 64 is always on when the temperature sensed by thermostat 70 is below 180 F. As soon as a temperature sensed by thermostat 70 exceeds 180 F, ready-light 64 turns off and the vaporized solution, which is escaping from tank 22 and passing into the chamber 50, is the correct temperature and the treating of the wig 56 can begin.

lt should be noted that in this circuit, the other terminal of heating element 32 is connected to one terminal of a second thermostat 72 and a refill lamp 74. The other terminal of thermostat 72 and refill lamp 74 is connected to return terminal 68 of the a.c, line. Thermostat 72 is mounted to the wall of tank 22 also and refill light 74 is mounted on support base l0 so as to be visible from the outside of the apparatus. In this instance thermostat 72 is a normally closed switch which will not open until it senses a temperature of approximately 220 F. Thus, when timer switch 62 is closed, heater element 32 remains on until thermostat 72 senses a temperature of approximately 220 F and opens up. Heater element 32 then effectively turns off` and refill light 74, which is a neon lamp, lights up. Light 74 is referred to as a refill light because, when the temperature sensed by thermostat 72 rises to 220, it is a result of such a reduction in the volume of the liquid solution within tank 22 that tank 22 must be refilled.

Thus, a wig of synthetic fiber can be treated within chamber S0 by setting timer 62, for instance, for approximately l to l5 minutes so as to turn heater element 32 on. The liquid within tank 22, which may be comprised substantially of at least water, soon begins to vaporize and the vapor rises into chamber 50. When ready-lamp 64 turns off, the temperature within chamber 50 will be approximately 150 to 160 F. As previously discussed, the construction of the apparatus is such that the temperature and condensation of vapor within the chamber is so even as to provide a good even treatment of wig 58.

As mentioned above, when refill light 741 becomes lit, liquid solution must be fed into tank 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the refilling means is provided by an open ended container 76, which container has a sealing ring 78 placed within the interior and adjacent the open end thereof. The container has a valve 80 located at its closed end which allows liquid to be squirted into the container but prevents liquid vapor from escaping therethrough, When tank 22 is to be refilled, the container is placed over mounting pin i6 so that sealing ring 78 presses against mounting pin i6 in such a manner as to prevent liquid from passing between mounting pin 116 and'sealing ring 78. When sealing ring 73 engages mounting pin E16, holes 52 in mounting pin 16 are located above the sealing ring so that as liquid, which may be squirted into container 76 from a vile 82 and through valve 80, will seep into tank 22 via holes 52. In this instance vile 82 can be in the form of a flexible tube which has a pointed nozzle 84. The pointed nozzle can be pressed into and force open valve 80, while vile 82 is squeezed to propel the liquid from vile 82 into the space between mounting pin 16 and container 76. It is of course obvious that tank 22 is refilled when domed cover 42 is removed.

While domed cover A132 is still removed, the refilling means can serve another purpose by further including a flexible rubber or plastic tube 86, which tube has one end thereof attached to the interior of container 76 and the other end thereof attached to a nozzle handle 88. Then when heater element 32 is turned on, vapor enters container 76 via holes in mounting pin i6 and passes through tube 86 and nozzle handle 88 so as to be sprayed onto a wig which is located outside of chamber 50. The wig in this manner can be touched-up or spot treated.

lt is thus seen that there is provided an apparatus for permanently setting synthetic hair which achieves the several objects of the invention and is well adapted to meet the conditions of' practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is understood that all matter herein described, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now described the invention, there is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1l. Apparatus for treating synthetic hair comprising a housing having a chamber therein, said housing including means for providing a uniform temperature distribution within the chamber, means for mounting synthetic hair within said chamber, means for introducing a vaporized liquid solution within said chamber so as to evenly treat those portions of the synthetic hair which are exposed to the vaporized liquid solution, said housing including a support base, a cover mechanically coupled to said support base, a liquid solution holding tank mounted within said support base, said synthetic hair mounting means being mechanically coupled to said base, said synthetic hair mounting means including a saucer having a mounting pin extending from the bottorn central portion of said saucer, said mounting pin having holes therein to allow the vaporized liquid solution to pass therethrough, the outer periphery of said saucer being positioned between said cover and said support base, whereby a wig stand is placed over said mounting pin so that the vaporized liquid solution can still pass through the holes in said mounting pin and rise into the chamber.

2. An apparatus according to claim l, wherein said tank has an open upper portion that is so attached to the base of said mounting pin that the vaporized liquid can escape from said tank, pass through the holes in said mounting pin and rise towards the chamber.

3. Apparatus for treating a wig of synthetic hair comprising a housing having a chamber therein, means for providing a uniform temperature distribution within said chamber, said means comprising means for heat insulating the interior of said housing to reduce heat transfer to the outer surface thereof and to reduce condensation on the interior surface thereof, said housing and said heat insulating means having ventilation holes for permitting the escape of the vaporized liquid solution, a wig stand located within said chamber and spaced from any portion of said housing and on which a wig of synthetic hair can be mounted so that the wig of synthetic hair will be spaced from said housing, means for introducing a vaporized liquid solution within the chamber so as to evenly treat a wig of synthetic hair which is placed on said mounting means and which is exposed to vaporized liquid solution within said chamber. 

1. Apparatus for treating synthetic hair comprising a housing having a chamber therein, said housing including means for providing a uniform temperature distribution within the chamber, means for mounting synthetic hair within said chamber, means for introducing a vaporized liquid solution within said chamber so as to evenly treat those portions of the synthetic hair which are exposed to the vaporized liquid solution, said housing including a support base, a cover mechanically coupled to said support base, a liquid solution holding tank mounted within said support base, said synthetic hair mounting means being mechanically coupled to said base, said synthetic hair mounting means including a saucer having a mounting pin extending from the bottom central portion of said saucer, said mounting pin having holes therein to allow the vaporized liquid solution to pass therethrough, the outer periphery of said saucer being positioned between said cover and said support base, whereby a wig stand is placed over said mounting pin so that the vaporized liquid solution can still pass through the holes in said mounting pin and rise into the chamber.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tank has an open upper portion that is so attached to the base of said mounting pin that the vaporized liquid can escape from said tank, pass through the holes in said mounting pin and rise towards the chamber.
 3. Apparatus for treating a wig of synthetic hair comprising a housing having a chamber therein, means for providing a uniform temperature distribution within said chamber, said means comprising means for heat insulating the interior of said housing to reduce heat transfer to the outer surface thereof and to reduce condensation on the interior surface thereof, said housing and said heat insulating means having ventilation holes for permitting the escape of the vaporized liquid solution, a wig stand located within said chamber and spaced from any portion of said housing and on which a wig of synthetic hair can be mounted so that the wig of synthetic hair will be spaced from said housing, means for introducing a vaporized liquid solution within the chamber so as to evenly treat a wig of synthetic hair which is placed on said mounting means and which is exposed to vaporized liquid solution within said chamber. 